Review: Thaandavam (2012)

I do not know what to say. But would like to put it this way.. Imagine watching an intense cricket match and just when you think the next ball would be the decider you are interrupted by a tiring and cliched advertisement. That is what is Vijay's Thaandavam. The director deserves all the credit for whatever "Thaandavam" is.

 

We all are so confident of Vikram to don any new role with style and with this he doesn't pull a heroic not-forgettable performance. Not that the role is easy, it is not that challenging.

 

Out of his previous performances, I particularly love Madarasapattinam and Deiva Thirumagal even though the latter was inspired from some other movie. He gives a lot of attention to detail. Every pixel which comes into the frame is carefully monitored. So is with Thaandavam. The movie has an interesting plot which could have churned out to be a 1 hour suspense video but the editing-screenplay duo fails and lets you down. It puts the avid movie watcher down and difficult to lift the senses up.

 

Amy Jackson has an introductory song and that happens right at the start obviously so the whole mood changes. Anushka delivers a fairly decent yet forgettable performance but she does play a bold female. Someone whom I would be interested in. (Yes, you read it! - 100 points to the people who find the reason why!)

 

Nasser's usual tamil accent is digestable. In fact that is very much "tamil" and NOT what he speaks in Thaandavam.

 

Tollywood's Jagapathi Babu plays an important role in the movie. He comes up with quite an "okay" performance.

 

Santhanam's witty one-liners are actually witty at places but doesn't sustain throughout.

 

GV's 25th is a let down and so is his background score which was at a very different level in Gangs of Wasseypur. (Yes, for people who didn't know, he scored the background for GOW - I & II) Songs come in at the wrong places just for the sake of it.

 

Bomb blast graphics are poor! You could actually see vehicles entering into the blast area and exiting unscathed. Serious let down in the start. For flaws, you see cheerlands with USC on their tees dancing while Amy takes Vikram out to show London. (Do they have a branch there? Apologies if they did..)

 

Overall, Vijay has a good story on paper but fails while spinning the frame. He could have made a TV episode or a more detailed romantic flick. The village scenes were funny and worth remembering.

About the 'stolen script' accusation, I really want to congratulate the person who is accusing UTV and also Director Ameer for resigning his position following this. I mean how stupid can one be! (Ask Ameer)

 

Watch Thaandavam if you wanna screw your own mood or if you are in a commenting spree - Don't miss it!

 

Rating: 1.5/5

 

Thaandavam: Doesn't entice!

Review: Barfi! (2012)

Barfi! is a joy to watch!

 

The start of the movie brings back memoirs of Legends Charlie Chaplin, Rowan Atkinson and Jackie Chan. But then, it takes a plunge and the genius of Anurag Basu who miserable failed last time with "Kites" comes into play. There is no doubt that Kites was the "only" failure in his filmography. Others were classics.

 

Cinema is an art and Barfi! proves it. Every character, every scene in this movie is charming. They make you fall in love at first sight.

 

The story starts with a narration (flashback) and then there is flashback within a flashback. Nowhere confusing. Very simple to understand. Kudos to Anurag (Basu).

 

Starting with acting, No points for guessing! Ranbir is the best of the lot although others are not far behind. He is one person who stands out. Brilliant Stuff.

 

Priyanka pulls a miracle from nowhere. Absolutely stunning stuff. Never wondered she was such an amazing actress.

 

Ileana kick starts her bollywood career with a bang. She is as gorgeous as ever (in recent times). She looks amazingly hot in the "bong" attire. Perfect Fit!

 

Every junior artist, character artist and anyone in the frame does a good job.

 

When you thought that the first half of the movie was amazing, post-interval is even better. There is no dull moment. The story is so well written and told that you get tears in your eyes. I got them.

 

Cinematographer Ravi Varman (popular in south) captures various shades of Kolkata and Darjeeling so accurately and the output is crisp.

 

Music by Pritam is surprisingly awesome and the background score is a protagonist in itself.

 

The genre of the movie is difficult to be certain of. It has romance, it has comedy, it has serious drama, it also has a lot of suspense. And of course its sort of a musical.

 

Watch Barfi. Celebrate life. Enjoy the experience. Leave the cinema hall refreshed. Don't miss it!

 

"Don't Worry, be Barfi!"

 

Rating: 4/5

 

Barfi!: Crunchy and Sweet!